Columbia, Mo.,—The 2019 University of Missouri Pork Institute, sponsored by the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the Missouri Pork Association, was held June 10 through June 12 in Columbia. The Institute was a three day educational event for high school students interested in the pork industry.

Students enjoyed a tour of Central Missouri Sausage & Meat, a processing plant in Fulton, Missouri and attended many educational sessions. They were also introduced to a variety of opportunities within the pork industry. At the end of their trip, students took a written exam covering all of the information learned. The students with the top two scores were each awarded a scholarship.

On June 12, Hannah Grace Bryson and Lainie Cowan were each awarded $1,000 scholarship to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia upon completion of high school. Hannah Grace Bryson resides in Labadie, MO and will graduate from Washington High School in 2021. Lainie Cowan resides in Livonia, MO, and will graduate from Putnam County R-I High School in 2020.

Other students attending the event include Addie Berry of Green Ridge, Zachary Main of Mercer, Grant Adkins of Burlington Junction, Kate Rogers of Bethany, and Thomas Stevens of Bethany.

Also attending were 2019 Missouri Pork Youth Ambassadors Kendra Betz of Trenton, Marlena Long of Paris and Matthew Morgan of Lamar, as well as the Missouri Pork Association Summer 2019 Interns Kaylee Calvin of Troy and Clint Perry of Columbia.

The Missouri Pork Association represents the state’s pork producers in the areas of promotion, research, education and legislation. For more information about this or any other programs of the Missouri Pork Association, go to www.mopork.com, or call the Missouri Pork Association office at (573) 445-8375.